Small, pin like, red spots on my cheeks?

[naomiy215]

Hi guys, I was hoping some may have answers to my problem. I am 16 years old, and have very sensitive skin. Sensitive skin runs in my family but I seem to be the only one that has small red dots. The red dots can't be mistaken for freckles, they are much smaller, and don't clump up as much. However they can be considered a bright red. Itn not a bump, nor do they itch, hurt, or have any type of discharge. They are just flat dots, my skin can be totally smooth with them still on my face. I have them around my cheeks and above my lips, and they occasionally appear on my chin. Sometimes these dots disappear, and I don't have many, and other times they are all over my cheeks (not in any EXTREME way like freckles.) Ive been having this ever since I was around 12, and it started off with just a few dots. However over the past 3 years the condition has been inconsistent. (I have considered it to be hormones but it doesn't seem to be so) These small red dots seem to be even more visible under strong lighting of sunlight. Sometimes I get even more under sunlight. Ive used different cleansers over the years but I always have to change, at the beginning 5/7 products would seem to be affective, but then the effects would wear off or make it worse later on (about 2-3 months). So again i would have to find something else. Also, where my red dots start to appear my skin seems to get a shade darker. Like originally my skin is quite fair, so the color of my skin seems to be uneven in some places. For example around my eyes Ive never had any read dots so the skin in that area stays the same, and appear to be brighter and lighter than the other areas. Although it isn't particularly bothering me in a physical manner, it does annoy me to see my skin with such noticeable dots. So if anyone has any ideas on how to get rid of these I would appreciate it.

[snich]

My daughter has a red mark just under her eye, high on her cheek bone. It appears to be tiny bright red thread veins. it suddenly appeared about 8 months ago. She can't remember damaging it but it seems to be getting larger.  

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
If these spots are to be removed for cosmetic reasons, electrosurgery and cryosurgery can be used. More recently pulsed dye laser or Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment are also used.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[naomiy215]

Hi! Thank you for letting me know the possible reasons, however I never use cosmetics, nor do I think it could be melasma. Sometimes I think it could be caused by my habit of excessively touching my face, due to possible germs, but then I am proven wrong each time. I have taken notice that my skin must be dry sometimes, because it gets a little oily every so often. When it does get oily I tend to break out and get more of those pin like red spots. However I can't seem to prevent my skin from getting dry. I've tried many things, drinking more water and using moisturizer which actually seems to make it worse.

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
These red spots can be due to phototoxic reaction to cosmetics or due to melasma. Treatment options include treatment with vitamin C and hydrocortisone, peel with carbon dioxide snow and alexandrite and ND-Yag Q-Switched laser treatment preceded by a hydroquinone-based application. Please discuss these options with your dermatologist.

It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.